Individual Indicted for Hobbs Act Robbery and Firearms Violations

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On December 14, 2017, a federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment against Herbert Santiago-De Jesús for Hobbs Act (18 U.S.C. 1951 (Interference with commerce by robbery) (two counts), possessing, brandishing and discharging firearms and a machinegun in furtherance of a crime of violence (18 U.S.C.§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i)(ii),(iii), and (B)(ii)), and being a felon in possession of firearms (18 U.S.C. 922 (g)(1)), announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) are in charge of the investigation.

According to the indictment, on September 17, 2016 Santiago-De Jesús did unlawfully take U.S. Currency four hundred and fifty dollars ($450.00), from Mi Barrita Familiar in Juana Díaz, PR, in the presence of employees and clients, against their will by means of actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury, immediate and future to their persons, that is, threatening the employees and clients with a machinegun in order to commit the robbery. In this incident, two persons were injured.

On or about September 10, 2017, the defendant herein, aided and abetted by others, did unlawfully take U.S. Currency from Delgens Bar, also in Juana Díaz, PR, threatening the employees and clients with a machinegun in order to commit the robbery. During the robberies, the defendant fired machineguns and patrons were injured.

For these crimes, the defendant is facing a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each robbery count, 10 years mandatory minimum for each count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and 30 years mandatory minimum on each count of possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a crime of violence. For the felon in possession charge, the maximum penalty is 10 years imprisonment. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Penélope Castellanos-Diloné is in charge of the prosecution of the case.